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Table Tennis

WTT Singapore Smash: Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula bow out in opening round

Indian campaign in singles at WTT Singapore Smash ended as Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula took an exit.

Manika Batra
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Manika Batra (File photo)

By

The Bridge Desk

Updated: 3 Feb 2025 4:23 PM GMT

India's Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula bowed out of the women's singles opening round at the 2025 WTT Singapore Smash on Monday.

While Batra went down 1-3 to Elizabeta Samara of Romania, Akula suffered a 2-3 loss at the hands of China's He Zhuojia.

Akula, playing her first event since her loss in the women's singles loss to Diya Chitale at the 86th Senior National Championships, did not have the best of starts to the contest as she surrendered the first game tamely at 5-11.

The 26-year-old Indian, however, fought back. She pocketed a hard fought second game 12-10 before winning the third 11-9 to race to the lead.

With the match win just a game away, Akula faltered. She lost the fourth game 8-11 before conceding the decider 11-13 as He wrapped up the match after a gruelling 50 minutes of action.

Later in the day, Batra also bowed out of contention effectively bringing curtains down on the Indian campaign in singles campaign in Singapore.

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardee conceded a hard fought first game 10-12 before winning the next 11-7 to level up with Samara.

The Romanian, however, once again eked past Batra to win the third game 12-10 before winning the fourth 11-7 to advance further in the competition.


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